New Atlanticist

Sharp insights and bold ideas from across the Council

From climate change to the China challenge and the contest between democracy and dictatorship, the New Atlanticist is where top experts and policymakers at the Atlantic Council and beyond offer exclusive insight on the most pressing global challenges—and the US role in addressing them alongside allies and partners.

The Council’s flagship section features big ideas, groundbreaking research, lightning-fast expert reactions, in-depth analyses, and thought-provoking commentary to shape public policy.

Hagel Praises Obama on Syria; Chides GOP on Iran

New Atlanticist
Sep 4, 2025

Dispatches from Damascus: The state of Syria’s postwar transition nine months after Assad’s fall

On a recent trip to the Syrian capital, Atlantic Council experts took note of how far the country has come since the Assad regime’s fall and what still needs to happen to secure peace and prosperity.

New Atlanticist
Aug 29, 2025

Twenty questions (and expert answers) about the negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine

By
Atlantic Council experts

August saw a flurry of diplomatic activity to end Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As September nears, Atlantic Council experts share their insights on what to expect next.

Conflict
Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

New Atlanticist
Aug 28, 2025

Germany wants to double its defense spending. Where should the money go?

By
Atlantic Council experts

After decades of Berlin underinvesting in its defense, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has plans to transform the Bundeswehr into Europe’s strongest military.

Defense Policy
Europe & Eurasia

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New Atlanticist

Mar 13, 2012

Hagel Praises Obama on Syria; Chides GOP on Iran

By Barbara Slavin

Atlantic Council Chairman Senator Chuck Hagel, who co-chairs the Obama administration’s Intelligence Advisory Board, says the United States should offer Iran “face-saving ways” out of the nuclear crisis and let Arab countries to take the lead in ousting Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Mar 13, 2012

Mass Slaughter Shocking, but Not Surprising

By Joshua Foust

The shocking murder last weekend of 16 Afghan civilians — 9 of them children — by a US soldier is raising many questions about the war. Coming right after the accidental burning of several Qurans at a US base last month, which sparked mass protests across the country, it seems reasonable to ask: what is […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 12, 2012

America Recalibrates Its Israeli Alliance

By Sarwar Kashmeri

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned home without receiving an American endorsement for an Israeli attack on Iran. Neither did he find much support for the Israeli government’s assertion that the window to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons is about to slam shut.

Iran

New Atlanticist

Mar 12, 2012

Nigeria Hostage Rescue Attempt: Tough But Correct Call

By Julian Lindley-French

The 7 March attempt to free Briton Chris McManus and Italian Franco Lamonilara from Nigerian kidnappers by Britain’s Special Boat Service (SBS) and Royal Marine Commandos British ended in failure. Tragically, both men were killed by their captors. The Italian President has attacked London for launching the raid without informing Rome prior to the operation.

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Mar 12, 2012

Europe Must Find the Political Will to Stabilize its Economy

By Timothy Stafford

Europe’s economy needs swift and concerted attention. For months, increasing fears about the possibility of sovereign defaults have engulfed the continent and contaminated its economies. Only by addressing the fundamental design flaws within the Euro can any prospect of sustained prosperity be restored.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 9, 2012

Mitigating NATO’s Invisible Risk

By Jordan Becker

As Europe becomes a modest producer rather than a consumer of security and the US engages in a “strategic pivot” toward the Asia Pacific, the most overlooked security challenge facing the transatlantic community is benign neglect.

Drones Technology & Innovation

New Atlanticist

Mar 9, 2012

Is it Time for a Nuclear Mutual Assistance Pact?

By Julian Lindley-French

Is it time for a Nuclear Mutual Assistance Pact? Yesterday’s ‘P5+1’ statement urging Iran to enter into “serious dialogue” on its nuclear program “without preconditions” suggests the danger of nuclear proliferation is now so real that something new is needed to prevent it. The statement is also an important precedent. The very fact that the […]

International Organizations Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

Mar 8, 2012

Global Security as National Security

By Derek Reveron

One of the enduring puzzles in security studies is why the United States downplays its relative strength and occupies itself with the challenge of weak or failed states. This is important given the considerable risks associated with maintaining dozens of treaty allies and a non-exclusive list of security partners such as Georgia, Kenya, and Thailand. […]

United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Mar 8, 2012

Does the US Army Have a Mission?

By John Deni

Judging from the media and the blogosphere, there is panic among the Army staff in the halls of the Pentagon these days, as leaders cope with dramatic cuts in force structure and a new defense strategy that appears to favor naval and air power at the expense of the country’s ground forces.

New Atlanticist

Mar 8, 2012

Dealing with Strategic Uncertainty

By Maleeha Lodhi

If the purpose of Track II diplomacy is for unofficial efforts to explore ways of addressing difficult problems, then a recent interaction in Bangkok organized by the University of Ottawa and the Atlantic Council lived up to that expectation. The three-day meeting brought together former military officials and diplomats from Pakistan and India to discuss […]

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